Research

Domestic Economies and Regional Relations in Upper Mesopotamia

In the Near East, the late 4th millennium BCE was a period of fundamental social change that witnessed the rise of more complex economic systems of trade and exchange on an interregional level. This is exemplified by the proliferation of similar architecture, ceramic styles, and accounting practices across the greater Mesopotamian region. In accessing the mechanisms behind this network of interaction, archaeologically the focus has remained upon centralized institutions such as the administrators of temples, public buildings and storehouses that supposedly governed this overarching bureaucratic network.

Notably the domestic economy, defined as the daily production and consumption activities of households, has been overlooked in favor of “top-down” theoretical approaches that place control of resources and labor in the hands of small elite factions or specialized trading guilds that monitored the flow of goods. Instead my work highlights the important role that household groups play in the structuring of community and regional economies. As a microcosm of society at large, households and their daily activities are sensitive indicators of broader sociopolitical change. My work thus far has demonstrated shifts in domestic economies that reflect a unique combination of economic degradation, internal household decision making, and restructuring of household labor to subvert new economic demands.

Household Archaeology

Thirty years ago Richard Wilk and William Rathje coined the phrase “household archaeology” in their seminal 1982 issue of American Behavioral Scientist. Since that time it has become a subfield as diverse in theoretical underpinnings as it is in practical applications. And while it could rightfully be argued that the maturity of household archeology has derived from the extensive work in Europe and the Americas (Mesoamerica in particular), there has in fact been much groundbreaking research carried out in Southwest Asia, especially in methods and refined techniques for studying ancient household groups.

Apart from bringing the important work of Near Eastern archaeologists to the forefront, I am interested in how households, as a basic unit of society, are a viable and rich lens through which to view the complex histories of ancient communities in the Near East and beyond. I am also interested in the tools and techniques—the practical applications—of household archaeology to answer a number of primary questions: How representative is (micro- and macro-) artifact patterning of past behaviors and activities? Can we study individual households? Is human agency (as group or individual) reflected in households?

Museum Education: Narrative(s), Archaeology and the Public

Museums play a vital role as intermediaries between archaeologists and the public. They are powerful institutions with the ability to shape general consensus about history and the profession of archaeology. Yet presently university and public museums are underutilized by scholars and/or growing stagnant with linear narratives and inaccessible displays. As financial belts tighten, it is imperative that curators and archaeologists create museum spaces that are sensual, interactive, and relevant both to public interests and scholarly dialogues.

My work explores how archaeologists can better tell their stories through museums. This includes exhibitions that heighten our senses, encourage interaction, and require visitor participation in the scientific and creative processes of “bringing history to life.” I am especially interested in the intersection of archaeology and contemporary art in museum spaces for the promotion of sensory studies, multi-vocality, and human interactions with the material world. Finally I am investigating ways museums can reach out to wider communities within academia and beyond.